Dredge-bucket chain



(No Model.)

A. W. ROBINSON. DREDGB BUCKET CHAIN.

" No. 4363;008. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

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1 UNITED STATES ATEN'I OFFICE.

ARTHUR w. ROBINSON, or BUOYRUS, OHIO.

DREDGE-BUCKET CHAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,008, dated September 9, 1890. Application filed January 20, 1890. Serial No. 337, 51 i. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. ROBINSON, a citizen of Canada, and a resident of Buoyrus, in the county of Crawford and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drive-Chains for Dredge- Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of dredgin g and like machinery in which endlesschains of buckets hinged together are employed.

My objects are, first, in dredge-bucket chains having oil-reservoirs, to make the feeding of the lubricant positive and more effective, and, second, to provide more'perfect means for excluding dirt and other objectionable matter from the bearings.

In the drawings the same reference-letters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a link of the bucket-chain, showing its attachment at either end to the contiguous links. Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal section taken through the center of the joint=pin which unites two links. Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of one of my packing-rings. Fig. 4 illustrates a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the ends of the packing-ring somewhat separated. Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional View of the packing-ring.

A are the links of the bucket-chain, to which the buckets may be attached either by being made integral with them or otherwise, as pre ferred.

For the purpose of feeding the lubricant the jointpin A, Figs. 1 and 2, is bored out, leaving an interior chamber B, and the chamber is fitted with a piston O, a threaded plug'D, and a threaded spindle E, which passes through the piston. The spindle E is fitted with a slotted head F, which turns in the plug D, being held against outward movement by a collar F, which is slipped onto the spindle. By means of the slot in the exposed end of the head F the spindle E can be turned from the outside by any suitable implement, as a screw-driver, and by so doing the piston O is made to travel upon it by reason of the screwthreads, and so force out the lubricant contained in the chamberB through the passage G to the bearing-surface, which in the present instance is a bushing H, of phosphor bronze. Any other suitable wearing-surface may be employed, however.

For the purpose of more perfectly excluding the dirt from the bearing, a packing-ring of improved form over that shown in Fig. 9 of my Patent No. 341,277 is employed. It is constructed and used as follows: Abutting sides D and E of the hinge-joint, Figs. 1 and 2, are faced off with a filleted projection concentric to the joint-pin, so that when they come together a groove is formed, as shown at F This groove has, preferably, a semicircular bottom and straight sides, as. shown, and receives a packing-ring I of the section shown in Figs. 2 and 5, having, preferably, a semicircularbottom and elastic flaring sides. Thus the packing-rim g requires to be compressed in order to occupy the groove, and the exclusion of dirt is insured by the perfect contact of the ring with the sides of the groove, even when the width of the latter is variable owing to looseness of parts, because the elasticity of the sides of the ring keep it in contact with the sides of the groove at all times,irrespective of the width of the groove. The packingring is preferably, but not necessarily, made of molded rubber, and is open at one point to permit of being readily replaced. It may be in the form of an unbroken ring, however. If made open, the ring is preferably made with a scarfed joint J R. (Shown in natural position in Fig. 4 and clasped in Fig. 3.) It is retained in place by a wire ring L, clinched upon it, or by other suitable means.

M is the usual metallic ring or washer, usually interposed between the moving parts to take the lateral thrust and wear.

It will be noticed that by my construct-ion the several parts composing the lubricator and the packing I secure a most perfect and durable combination for lubricating the joint in dredge-bucket chains and other like apparatus, which, owing to the nature of their use, are peculiarly liable to damage by forcible contact with adjacent bodies, and also to damage because of grit getting into the jointthat is to say, all parts of the feed for the 111- bricant are protected against blows from adjacent bodies orobjectsby being inclosed within a recess 111 the end of the joint-pin, and also the spindle is sustained and firmly held in position by the threaded plug in which it works, which during the operation of the device is practically integral with the jointpin itself and is never moved except for refilling the chamber with lubricant. Thus reliable, simple, and durable means for feeding the lubricant are secured, and the peculiar construction of the packing-ring seals the joint atD E perfectly. Consequently thelubricant,which is well and sufficiently supplied by the feeding devices, is preserved in proper condition, free from grit, &c., which would detract from its efliciency and also injure the joint, and the packing itself is retained within a recess below the surface of surrounding metal. Thus injury to itis not likely to occur.

I claim- 1. The combination of a chambered jointpin having a duct from the chamber to the surface of the pin, a threaded spindle and piston within the chamber, a plug to stop the end of the chamber and support the spindle, said spindle having means whereby it may be turned from the exterior of the joint, and a packing ring inclosed within a groove formed between the abutting sides D and E, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a chambered jointpin having a duct from the chamber to the surface of the pin, a threaded spindle and piston within the chamber, and a plug to stop the end of the chamber and support the spindle, the said plug and the end of the spindle being located in a recess made in the joint-pin, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 8th day of January, A. D. 1890.

ARTHUR W. ROBINSON.

WVitnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, FREDERICK SMITH. 

